BTR-80

The BTR-80 is an soviet 8×8 wheeled amphibious APC, developed in the early 1980s as a successor to the BTR-70. It entered service in 1986. The BTR-80 features a single 260 hp diesel engine (replacing the BTR-70’s twin gasoline engines), improved side doors for safer troop egress, and a turret with a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun. It carries a crew of 3 and up to 7 passengers. The BTR-80 is fully amphibious and has improved mine and ballistic protection compared to its predecessors.

• Crew and Capacity: 3 crew (driver, commander, gunner) and 7 infantrymen.

• Armament: BPU-1 turret with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds) and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (2,000 rounds). The turret allows a maximum elevation of 60°, enabling engagement of targets on slopes, in urban environments, or low-flying aircraft. The main gun is not stabilized, limiting accurate fire on the move to low speeds.

• Armor: Welded high-hardness steel, with hull front and sides upgraded to 9 mm (from 7 mm on the BTR-70) and turret at 9 mm at 45° (13 mm line-of-sight thickness). Provides protection against small arms fire (7.62 mm ball ammo) and small bomb splinters but is vulnerable to 7.62×54 mm R armor-piercing rounds.

• Mobility: Powered by a single 260 hp V-8 turbocharged, water-cooled diesel engine (KamAZ-7403), replacing the BTR-70’s twin gasoline engines. Top speed is 80–90 km/h on roads, 9 km/h in water (amphibious with hydrojets), with a range of 600 km. It can climb 60% gradients and 0.5 m vertical steps.

• Production: Began in 1984, with serial production from 1986 until the early 1990s, resumed post-Soviet collapse with upgrades for domestic and export markets.

Design Improvements over the BTR-70:

• Turret: Redesigned from the BTR-70’s conical turret to an 8-faceted welded design with a modified mantlet for greater elevation.

• Firing Ports: Changed from tear-shaped to round with ball mounts (similar to BMP-1), with forward ports angled for frontal firing.

• Side Doors: Split horizontally, with the upper part opening forward for protection during dismount and the lower part forming a step.

• Engine Compartment: Rear hull raised and squared off to accommodate the single diesel engine, improving weight distribution and amphibious capability.

Standard Equipment: Includes TNPO vision blocks, TNP-B and TKN-3 optics, OU-3GA2M infrared searchlight, six 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers, R-173 or R-163-50U radios, intercom, and NBC protection system.

Some of the most notable, but not all, variants of the BTR-80:

Variant	Main Differences/Features	Based On
BTR-80K	Command equipment, extra radios, telescopic mast	BTR-80
BTR-80A	30mm 2A72 autocannon, new turret, improved sights	BTR-80
BTR-80AK	Command version of BTR-80A, extra antennas, fewer ports	BTR-80A
BTR-80S	Internal Troops, KPVT/PKT armament	BTR-80A
BTR-80M	240 hp engine, longer hull, new tires	BTR-80
BTR-82/82A	Improved armor, electronics, 300 hp engine, 30mm gun (82A)	BTR-80/80A
BTR-82AM	Refurbished BTR-80 to BTR-82A standard	BTR-80
BTR-82AT	Thermal imager, Kornet ATGM, SLAT armor	BTR-82A
BTR-87	Front engine, rear/roof troop exits	BTR-82A
2S23 Nona-SVK	120mm gun-mortar turret	BTR-80
BREM-K	Recovery vehicle, winch, crane	BTR-80
RKhM-4	NBC reconnaissance equipment	BTR-80
BMM	Armored ambulance	BTR-80

More information:

• BTR-80 - Wikipedia
• BTR-80 | Weaponsystems.net
• BTR-80 Armoured Personnel Carrier - Army Technology